Making News on Heart.org

Washington, D.C., April 3, 2014 — American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown made the following comments on the study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the rise in e-cigarette calls to poison centers:

“The CDC’s latest study on e-cigarettes is in one word – disturbing. The rapid increase in calls to poison control centers for exposure to e-cigarette liquid, particularly among young children, points to a serious problem. New data such as this cries out for Food and Drug Administration oversight of these products.

With more than 51 percent of all reported e-cigarette poisonings involving children under the age of five, immediate action is needed to keep children from ingesting or coming into contact with these products. Manufacturers should disclose the ingredients and dangers of these products in clear and detailed warning labels, limit their use of fruit and candy flavors that appeal to children, and restrict the marketing and sale of e-cigarettes to youth.

E-cigarettes need to be regulated, researched and monitored closely. The American Heart Association urges the FDA to take prompt action to protect the public’s health and bring these products under its jurisdiction.”